GPS vehicle tracking systems are rapidly becoming a vital tool for many business owners. In fact, nearly all businesses who have a large vehicle fleet are considering tracking systems as a way to improve their efficiency and in effect, increase profitability.

Who uses these vehicle tracking systems though? What type of company can benefit from the implementation of this GPS technology? Companies that have large numbers of contractors out on the road, such as electrical and plumbing businesses are rapidly implementing tracking solutions. It is not just contractors however, limousine and taxi companies can use vehicle tracking software to increase their efficiency and haulers can use the technology to keep track of particularly valuable assets.

Normally a GPS vehicle tracking system will consist of a tracking device placed inside a vehicle along with a central server and software that lets the user track the fleet from headquarters. The information is relayed using geostationary positioning satellites that give any fleet vehicle’s speed, position and direction of travel. The device inside the vehicle transmits its position on regular intervals in order to remain up to date at all times. The interval is usually around every two to fifteen minutes depending upon the manufacturer’s and owner’s preferences.

But why go to the expense of implementing a vehicle tracking system? Here are ten of the most common reasons.

1. Vehicle tracking systems can help to reduce running costs by specifically targeting those who speed and waste fuel. By focussing upon these drivers it is possible to not only reduce fuel and maintenance bills, but to also reduce insurance premiums.

2. By using a system’s automatic mileage reminder it is possible to reduce time wasted through vehicle maintenance. In addition, by having a service that ensures your vehicles are regularly serviced means that resale values for the fleet will also be higher. It can also help to avoid penalties for issues such as bald tyres and tax as reminders are clear and precise.

3. Some insurance companies will offer around a thirty percent discount to companies who implement a GPS vehicle tracking system. This is not only because it encourages safer driving, but also helps recovery if thefts do occur.

4. Productivity of workers can be increased by being able to keep track of lunch hours, exposing unauthorised stops and breaks and by evaluating the overtime requests of workers. By having detailed information on the whereabouts of vehicles at all times, it is far easier to keep an eye on employee activities.

5. GPS devices help businesses to become more customer friendly. For instance, a cab company that is using a vehicle tracking system can tell a customer exactly where the nearest cab is and give a realistic estimate on how long it will be.

6. Business owners can find their most productive employees and use this information to implement further training or even a system of bonuses to enhance staff members’ work ethic.

7. Vehicle tracking systems will vastly reduce your phone bills as it is no longer a necessity to constantly call employees to find their location.

8. By having all the relevant information on one screen, those running the software have easy access to answer enquiries rapidly and accurately.

9. GPS systems reduce the amount of paperwork that drivers must fill out. By doing this you not only soften the blow of introducing such a system, but also increase the accuracy of your records.

10. By having detailed information on the whereabouts of all employees, business owners are far more in touch with their business operations. Meaning they have greater levels of control over their company.

These ten reasons are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits that vehicle tracking software can bring. If you run a fleet based business, it is about time to consider bringing your operations up to date, making use of advanced technology to not only improve your operations, but also efficiency and profitability.

The ease with which GPS tracking helps you to keep tabs on your business productivity and contributes to the reduction to your overall business costs such as fuel and missed deadlines means it is the investment for businesses involved in any type of vehicle management and logistics services.

There is a great deal of choice available when it comes to choosing a vehicle tracking system and your selection will inevitably depend on what kind of business you run as well as what you need from the system that determines which of the many products you should choose.

GPS tracking systems work by sending precise microwave signals from satellites to the receiver in your vehicle. This data can then be processed into a location, which is presented to the client in the form of a digital map. This is the most basic level of vehicle tracking available but there are many other benefits that a tracking system can offer.

Most systems are customisable to give each type of business the exact details they need to improve their service history and efficiency across the fleet. If you are running a large operation it’s important to have all the facts at your fingertips so you can despatch new drivers should you need to and to be confident that your vehicles are working to their optimum capacity.

For example, there are GPS Vehicle tracking systems that can determine whether the engine has been switched off and for how long, just as there are systems which can provide a historic activity report so you can keep tabs on the progress of your vehicle and its goods. Whether you are looking for an in-depth analysis of every vehicle or simply an exact indication of its location direction and speed, there is a GPS tracking system for your business.

If you are looking to improve your overall operational control of the fleet while it’s in motion, having information about every vehicle not only benefits the company but can improve customer relations too. If, for example, you are working to a tight deadline with a delivery and your client phones to ask when it will arrive, having a GPS tracking system on-board means you can give an exact timescale with regards to arrival time. This is a fantastic way to reassure every client and to make sure you meet your desired ETA.

You can also improve the working conditions of your drivers with the right vehicle tracking system – after all no one likes sitting in traffic for hours! Avoiding delays on the roads using mapping software helps you to meet your deadlines and means you can free up more drivers to make more pick-ups in a day.

A GPS system can even help out when proving the validity of a parking ticket so you don’t lose out unnecessarily. Saving you money on additional costs such as these as well as helping you to improve your driver’s routes to save on fuel and speed, the right vehicle tracking system can help every one.

GPS vehicle tracking technology has been steadily improving in the last few years. So much so that many fleet managers are considering implementation to improve their business operations and make them more efficient and subsequently more profitable. However, there are still an unenlightened few out there who believe that the utilisation of GPS vehicle tracking solutions will do more harm than good and are just a more expensive answer to the problem of tracking fleet vehicles. It is hoped that this article will set out the most common misconceptions and attempt to ally any fears that fleet managers hold.

Numerous business managers have not yet implemented vehicle tracking systems due to the belief that it simply sends the wrong message to staff members. Some believe that it shows a deep mistrust of staff and a need to check up on them throughout the working day. This is simply wrong, these systems are not put in place to keep tabs on workers, they are instead a tool to increase efficiency; by controlling how the fleet is being driven and the maintenance of vehicles.

Understandably the fear of managers is also felt by workers. Many employees out there, on hearing that a vehicle tracking system is to be implemented feel that it is an invasion of their privacy. This fear however is easily allayed through effective education on how tracking solutions actually make life easier for drivers. Once it is explained that GPS technology can reduce the amount of time each operative spends on the road whilst also reducing their paperwork requirements, resistance is soon dissolved. The benefits are clearly there, it is simply about presenting them to staff members so they understand why implementation is a necessity.

A number of managers out there feel that GPS vehicle tracking solutions will not suit their operation. There is an element of technophobia in this standpoint, which is understandable. However the majority of fleet management companies are more than happy to provide full training whilst also implementing the system. After this training has been conducted the manager and workers can all understand how the system operates and are also able to use it effectively and with ease.

Another factor holding back implementation of vehicle tracking solutions is cost. The generally held belief is that GPS is far too expensive while running an existing system carries no implementation costs. This current system could utilise cell phones although the benefits of these systems are now being called into a question. While a cell phone gives the manager instant access to all workers, it does not deliver up to the minute information on their location, speed or direction. In addition it is too easy for workers to leave their phone in the car, making trips to the pub a possibility. GPS technology completely removes instances such as these, the result being a more dedicated workforce.

Naturally the costs of implementation are also a major concern for fleet managers. It is true that implementation costs in some cases can be great, although this is dependent upon the size of the fleet and the type of operation. Despite this, the majority of companies find that after a GPS vehicle tracking systems has been installed, the financial benefits in terms of savings and increased profits pay for the system in around six months to a year.

Hopefully this article has gone some of the way in dispelling misconceptions concerned with vehicle tracking. Today it is a viable solution to the problems of fleet managers.